Injury-hit US finalize Olympic squad

Agence France-Presse

U.S. basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski (L) and U.S. basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo (R) flank the 12 players selected for the 2012 U.S. Olympic men's basketball team during a news conference at the Wynn Las Vegas Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada July 7, 2012. Photo by Steve Marcus, Reuters.

LAS VEGAS, Nevada - (UPDATED) The injury-hit United States named its 12-man team basketball squad for the London Olympics Saturday, with Blake Griffin, Andre Iguodala and James Harden nabbing the final three roster spots.

"We projected we would have difficulty getting down to a roster of 12, regardless of the number of injuries that have taken place, because they are such an outstanding group of people and athletes," USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said in a statement.

"The final selections keep us in concert with our game plan to have athleticism, versatility and strong depth on our roster. I think our final roster epitomizes all of that."

LeBron James, coming off his first NBA title with Miami, will be joined by 2008 Olympic gold medal-winning teammates Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and Deron Williams on the squad once again guided by Duke University coach Mike Krzyzewski.

NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant and Oklahoma City teammate Russell Westbrook, who lost to Miami in the NBA Finals, will be joined by 2010 world championship teammates Tyson Chandler and Kevin Love, two vital big men for the Americans.

Missing out as the final selection was made were Eric Gordon, Rudy Gay and top draft selection Anthony Davis of New Orleans, who could not scrimmage this week because of a sprained ankle.

Krzyzewski echoed Colangelo's comments on the difficulty of selecting the team, despite injuries that ruled out such NBA stars as center Dwight Howard, guards Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade, and forward Chris Bosh.

"It's the best challenge that you could have, because everyone has been so committed," he said.

Griffin, slowed by a knee injury in the NBA playoffs, demonstrated his return to health with a dunking display after Saturday's practice.

Harden, who earned the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award for top reserve, gives the United States a scoring threat off the bench while Iguodala brings a strong defensive presence.

The Americans remain short-handed at center, where Howard started in 2008 with Bosh as his back-up.

With Chandler the only true center remaining, some less experienced players will be called on at the position.

Nevertheless, the USA still boast formidable athleticism and scoring prowess.

Colangelo alluded to the size disadvantage the Americans are expected to face when he noted that Griffin's size as well as his talent was a factor in his selection.

The US training camp in Las Vegas will run through Thursday, ending with a game against the Dominican Republic. The Americans then train for three days in Washington before facing Brazil and then train two days in Manchester, England, before taking on the British Olympic squad.

Twenty years after the original US Olympic Dream Team played in Barcelona, the latest incarnation of US NBA Olympic talent will return for exhibition games against Argentina on July 22 and Spain on July 24, the latter a showdown between the Olympic gold medal favorites.